Best Places For Ice Cream in NYC

When summer comes around and New York’s muggy heat starts to feel a little stifling, fear not! New Yorkers are experts at providing plenty of ways to escape the blazing sun and cool down. One of the best ways to do so is by indulging in a decadent ice cream cone at one of the city’s many sweet shops. Whether you like fancy, artisanal flavors with wacky toppings or just a simple scoop of vanilla in a waffle cone, NYC has got you covered. Here are a few of the best places for ice cream in New York City.

Morgenstern’s Finest Ice Cream

If you’re going for simple and delicious, check out Morgenstern’s Finest. They serve up scoops of four creamy types of vanilla, including bourbon and Madagascar, as well as a rotating selection of straightforward and super tasty flavors. Adventuresome types should try out their gigantic banana split — the staff picks the flavors as a surprise so you never know what you’re going to get!

• 2 Rivington Street

Mister Dips

Yep, even ice cream is trendy now. Mister Dips, located in Williamsburg, has made sure to see to it that their ice cream and burger joint is as hipster as can be. It’s operated out of an Airstream at the William Vale Hotel and serves up “dairy dips” — swirls of soft serve dipped in glazes and covered in toppings of your choice. Not only do you get to indulge in some of the most delicious ice cream in town, but you can also take in the amazing skyline views — a win-win for anyone visiting the city.

• Located at Vale Park on the corner on N. 12th and Wythe Avenue.

Momofuku Milk Bar

Momofuku is a giant food empire and this quirky bakery is part of what has made the name so popular. They are famous for their Cereal Milk ice cream, which is designed to taste just like the milk at the bottom of a bowl of cornflakes. They also offer a ton of fun toppings and rotating flavors on soft serve. Definitely worth checking out next time you need to beat the city heat.

• 220 8th Ave, 21st St

Van Leeuwen Ice Cream

Van Leeuwen started out as a creative vegan and regular ice cream shop that did business out of a big yellow truck that roamed the streets of Brooklyn. They have since expanded to open locations in the East Village, West Village, Greenpoint, Williamsburg and Boerum Hill. Some local favorites include their Earl Grey tea ice cream and the honeycomb flavor. Vegans can try the cashew-based flavors like caramelized banana nut. There’s something for everyone here!

Ample Hills Creamery

This creamery was named after a Walt Whitman poem. It started out as a small shop in Prospect Heights and has since expanded to Gowanus, Meatpacking District and Hell’s Kitchen locations. It serves up amazing ice cream concoctions such as the Ooey Gooey Butter Cake and The Munchies, a pretzel-flavored ice cream packed with bits of Ritz crackers, potato chips, pretzels and M&M’s. Yum! No wonder this is a favorite among New Yorkers.

• 623 Vanderbilt Ave. 305 Nevins St.

Visiting NYC in the summer means you get to take advantage of tons of amazing outdoor concerts, events and activities and also stroll around and enjoy the warm weather! But when the heat starts to sizzle, keep these sweet shops in mind for a quick break to help you cool down!